Personal Knowledge Capital: The Inner and Outer Path of Knowledge Creation in a Web World

Chandos Information Professional Series

Personal Knowledge Capital

The inner and outer path of knowledge creation in a web world

Janette Young

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

Dedication

List of figures and tables

Acknowledgements

Preface

About the author

Part 1: The inner path of knowledge creation

Chapter 1: Introduction to personal knowledge capital

Abstract:

Knowledge management and knowledge creation

The knowledge worker

Knowledge management in a web environment

Personal knowledge management

Introduction to personal knowledge capital

Summary

Introduction

Chapter 2: Exploring knowledge creation tacit knowledge

Abstract:

Knowledge creation and SECI

Summary

Chapter 3: Tuning-in: knowingness for inner personal knowledge capital

Abstract:

Living and sensing

The inner realm

Tuning into feelings and heart

Zen: quiet time for creativity (the tools for personal knowledge)

Summary

Reflective exercises

Chapter 4: Mastering self and behaviour

Abstract:

The power of thought

Pruning the garden of your mind

The emotional wheel

Think, feel and behave

Summary

Reflective self-assessment questions

Chapter 5: Ka, the knowledge awareness model for knowledge creation

Abstract:

Developing knowingness

Ka: the knowledge awareness model of knowledge creation

‘Ka’, the knowledge awareness model of knowledge creation incorporates the LOFT

Summary

Reflective exercises

Part 2: The outer path of personal knowledge capital in a web environment

Introduction

Chapter 6: Personal knowledge and network building

Abstract:

Good relationships and caring environments

Shadow knowledge

Valuing personal knowledge

Reflective practice (business practice tools)

Summary

Exercises for self-assessment

Chapter 7: Social capital and trust for a web environment

Abstract:

Intellectual capital

Social capital

Social capital and the virtual environment

Relationships and trust

Trust, conversation and learning in the online environment

Summary

Exercises

Chapter 8: The magic box

Abstract:

Ideas

Conversation

Knowledge, blogs and social interaction

Summary

Exercises

Chapter 9: Community and culture

Abstract:

Community, trust and social capital

Types of web-based community

Communities of practice

The e-learning community

The wisdom community

The knowledge community

The network community

Culture

Assessing organisational cultural readiness for knowledge sharing

Summary

Reflective exercises

Chapter 10: Mobilising and designing the web infrastructure for twenty-first-century living

Abstract:

Knowledge-based systems and value added

Knowledge and interactivity online

The infrastructure and ecology for knowledge-based systems (IEKBS)

Pruning the garden

Summary

Reflective exercises

Chapter 11: The application and exploration of knowledge creation theory

Abstract:

The Unified Model of Knowledge Creation

The SECI model

The changing nature of the Ba metaphor

‘Ba’, changing labels, and virtual interaction

Valuing Knowledge Creation Assets (KCAs)

The application of Knowledge Creation Assets in virtual space

The management of the knowledge creation theory

Managing the virtual environment

Summary

Reflective exercises

Chapter 12: The Knowledge Cube: a model for knowledge creation in the web environment

Abstract:

The Knowledge Cube processes

Summary

Conclusion: the inner and outer path of knowledge creation

Inner personal knowledge capital

The outer path of personal knowledge capital

Balancing, valuing and exploiting your personal knowledge capital

Summary

Glossary

References

Index

Copyright

Chandos Publishing

Hexagon House

Avenue 4

Station Lane

Witney

Oxford OX28 4BN

UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 1993 848726

Email: info@chandospublishing.com

www.chandospublishing.com

www.chandospublishingonline.com

Chandos Publishing is an imprint of Woodhead Publishing Limited

Woodhead Publishing Limited

80 High Street

Sawston

Cambridge CB22 3HJ

UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 1223 499140

Fax: + 44 (0) 1223 832819

www.woodheadpublishing.com

First published in 2012

ISBN: 978-1-84334-700-2 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-78063-366-4 (online)

© Janette Young, 2012

The right of Janette Young to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the Publishers. This publication may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior consent of the Publishers. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

The Publishers make no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.

The material contained in this publication constitutes general guidelines only and does not represent to be advice on any particular matter. No reader or purchaser should act on the basis of material contained in this publication without first taking professional advice appropriate to their particular circumstances. All screenshots in this publication are the copyright of the website owner(s), unless indicated otherwise.

Typeset by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk

Printed in the UK and USA.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Sarah Elsie Young

List of figures and tables

Figures

2.1. The SECI model 20

3.1. The emotional scale 37

5.1. 'Ka', the knowledge awareness model of knowledge creation incorporates the LOFT 58

5.2. The knowledge awareness representation of Ka 61

8.1. The magic box 92

8.2. The power of ideas 93

8.3. The box of ideas 94

8.4. The box of ideas in virtual space 95

8.5. The magic box solution 99

10.1. The Integrated Layered Knowledge Infrastructure 123

10.2. The ecology for PKC: An ecological space for collaborative knowledge in the web environment 128

11.1. The Unified Model of Knowledge Creation 140

11.2. Visualisation of the Ba and Basho 143

11.3. Four types of Ba 146

12.1. The Knowledge Cube for knowledge creation within the virtual environment 160

12.2. The Knowledge Cube for knowledge creation within the virtual environment: side view 161

Tables

5.1. The LOFT: inner individual knowledge for personal knowledge capital 60

9.1. Types of community 110

10.1. The design readiness assessment tool 130

11.1. Managing the virtual knowledge environment 151

13.1. Valuing and exploiting your personal knowledge capital 169

Acknowledgements

Dr Janette Young

I would like to thank those who have helped and supported me to complete this book. In particular, I would like to thank Professor David Wainwright for his support and constructive feedback. Thanks also go to Diane Young for her support at all times, and her editorial contribution. Thanks go to Dr Glyn Jones and the team at Chandos Publishing for their support. I would like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional love and support. I have written this book with my previous UK and international students in mind and I hope they enjoy and understand my message. I have on many occasions in the past been inspired by their feedback. This book is meant for them and the possibility that I could reach a wider audience. With love and thanks.

Preface

Janette Young, PhD

This book has arisen because of my passion for my subject area of knowledge management and knowledge creation and the desire to further explore know-how and tacit knowledge in a web world. With over 15 years' experience as a senior lecturer in UK universities involved at postgraduate level, I had a wealth of experience to draw upon. I had previously designed and managed knowledge management postgraduate courses, including running one of the first MBA programmes in knowledge management in the UK at Anglia Ruskin University, followed later by an MSc in e-Knowledge Management. In this capacity, I taught both international and UK postgraduate students. After many years of managing and teaching modules in principles of knowledge management, knowledge and strategy, knowledge and technology, personal knowledge management and research methods, and working as an external examiner for three other UK universities, I felt it was time to express my own ideas in relation to the subject. My diverse and broad experience in this subject matter therefore informed my views. I currently work independently as a consultant. As an expert with a PhD in knowledge creation, my own ideas in relation to this theory are expressed in this book, supported by my qualitative empirical research investigation. Being research active and published in this area, I had presented at conferences in Europe and as far afield as Asia. In fact it was my first trip outside Europe to a conference in Asia that fully ignited my passion for personal awareness. Although always fascinated by the concept of tacit knowledge, my own personal journey into personal awareness began in 1996, and the result of this journey at this point in time is this book, blending together my interests, expertise in knowledge creation and personal awareness.

'Knowledge capital' brings a fresh and new perspective with its focus on valuing ideas and know-how. It is a journey that leads into the world of personal awareness as the search for 'know-how' unfolds into the realms of personal knowledge. At the same time we need to know how to communicate this knowledge and present it in order for it to reach the outside world. The idea for knowledge capital derives from knowledge management and knowledge creation theory, and can be viewed as part of personal knowledge management. The 'inner' and 'outer' paths of personal knowledge capital enable knowledge workers to create their own personal knowledge processes and take responsibility for their own development. Personal knowledge capital is an integration of inner knowledge and the exploitation of outer knowledge skills. This book attempts to take personal knowledge into new realms by focusing on the know-how and interior knowledge that forms part of the inner personal journey. In this way, individual personal knowledge is a search to understand and become aware of 'interior knowledge' as part of tacit knowledge and inner personal development.

The aim of the book is to integrate two paths, and blend the 'inner' with the 'outer' path in order to create personal knowledge capital. On the one hand, it aims to help individuals search for more understanding and meaning in the area of tacitness by linking to their own individual know-how; and on the other hand, the book hopes to emphasise the development of personal knowledge by successfully using web environments in order to do so. By discussing the link to networking, communities and various technologies the author hopes to embrace modern methods but at the same time be aware of the know-how within our own innate nature. By doing so, we can start to value our own inner knowledge, by using smart tools to express this knowledge. One way the reader can build personal knowledge capital and address his/her own limitations is by focusing on new and deeper elements of know-how and knowledge. In this way, the inner personal knowledge capital can, and does, reach greater levels of depth to support the interior world of the individual. This makes knowledge capital unique.

This book has been specifically written for the knowledge worker in the twenty-first-century organisation. It incorporates the development of a more fully developed set of ideas on knowledge creation theory to include the deeper levels of personal knowledge and how to communicate this knowledge within an increasingly virtual environment. The ideas in the book derive from my own research investigation into this subject area, whereby I highlighted that limitations existed on various levels within knowledge creation in relation to 'understanding personal know-how and tacit knowledge' and the creation of knowledge in a virtual environment. Eventually this analysis led me into the area of personal development. As such, I was inspired to rethink conceptually about the idea of personal knowledge for the knowledge worker. The tools and models put forward arise from a qualitative research investigation into knowledge creation using a knowledge-based web environment. This book focuses on sharing conversation, information and ideas, relationships, community and networking, and last but not least, harnessing the new interactive technologies.

The concept of personal knowledge capital falls into the category of third generation knowledge management with its focus on social capital. Personal knowledge capital forms part of knowledge creation theory for the virtual web environment within knowledge management theory, and it also overlaps into personal knowledge management. Because of this, personal knowledge capital is part of a new generation that integrates socio-technical, organic and personal development aspects. Personal Knowledge Capital attempts to engage an audience within business, knowledge management and management and the web environment who would not normally attempt to engage with, understand, or exploit this type of know-how. I hope that knowledge workers in the contemporary organisation can fully utilise all the skills and abilities available to them in the future, as well as utilising their own intuitive nature in order to address problems and issues that arise within their environment. Therefore, there is an emphasis on the knowledge worker using intuitive know-how to complement rational processes. The hope is that in the future these ideas and concepts will become the norm in organisations and that it will be considered acceptable practice for management to value intangible insights derived from the knowledge worker's inner reference system, so that this element may be valued and accepted as part of organisational practice. Personal knowledge capital would then be acknowledged and valued within forward-thinking creative organisations. Thus the interweaving of the 'inner and outer' path to knowledge could be integrated to include an approach to personal knowledge management and knowledge creation that fully exploits the individual's skills and abilities. The outcomes from my own research into web tools and technologies have resulted in the creation of an array of frameworks, models and design principles for exploiting knowledge